Jagan toes Naidu’s line

Complains to Union Water Resources Minister on Palamuru

Hyderabad: Leader of Opposition in Andhra Pradesh and YSRCP chief Y S Jaganmohan Reddy toed the line of the AP government on the Palamuru lift irrigation project. Faced with criticism from Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and TDP leaders saying that Jagan had allied with the TRS, the YSRCP leader on Sunday dashed off a letter to Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti.

Jaganmohan Reddy objected to the laying of foundation stone for the Palmuru-Ranga Reddy lift irrigation project by the Telangana government and sought her intervention in order to resolve the issue between Telangana and AP.

Stating that the project intends to lift 90 TMC of Krishna river water from the foreshore of Srisailam reservoir, he pointed out that it would deprive drought-ridden Rayalaseema, Nellore and Prakasam districts of irrigation water.

Referring to the provisions in Part IX of the AP Reorganisation Act, the YSRCP leader said that the project was taken up without the necessary approval from the apex body for Godavari and Krishna River water resources.

The apex body was mandated to supervise the functioning of Krishna and Godavari River Management Boards. Jagan stated that the State governments can take up new projects only after the proposal for construction was approved by the River Management Boards and by the Central Water Commission (CWC).

The State of Telangana is going ahead with the above cited project without approaching the authorities concerned, Jagan wrote. The Opposition leader brought to the notice of the Union minister that the Palamuru project does not have any allocation under the Awards granted by the Tribunals constituted under the lnter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956 so far.

Jagan further pointed out that the proposed project will also destabilise the settled ayacut under Srisailam, Nagarjunasagar and Prakasam barrages, leading to serious ramifications.